Alcohol, sugary drinks, tobacco widely available in Butte County stores

New data reveals that Butte County stores sell more alcohol, sugary drinks and harmful tobacco products than other areas in the state, according to a report released Wednesday.

The findings are part of a new study on the availability and marketing of unhealthy and healthy food products in stores that sell tobacco. On Wednesday, the Butte County Public Health Department, the American Lung Association in California and other community partners released statewide, regional and county-level data that includes findings on sales of e-cigarettes, pricing and types of tobacco and alcohol products sold, advertising and placement of tobacco, alcohol and food products in stores, and density of stores that sell tobacco and their proximity to schools.

"The types of stores we have in our community, the types of products available or not available in our stores, and how they are priced and promoted influence us all, but especially our kids," said Shelly Brantley, advocacy director for the American Lung Association.

The survey's release kicked off the Healthy Stores for a Healthy Community statewide campaign. The goal is to educate Californians about how unhealthy products are marketed to youth and influence behaviors that can lead to obesity, chronic disease and death.

Statewide, 7,300 stores including supermarkets, liquor stores, small markets, convenience stores and big-box establishments were surveyed, including more than 550 in the North State.

Results showed that more than 70 percent of stores post outdoor advertising for unhealthy products, while only 10 percent have healthy advertising, such as for milk, fruit or vegetables. In Butte County, about 25 percent of those stores are within 1,000 feet of schools and are frequented by children.

"It's no wonder I have trouble getting my 16-year-old daughter to make healthy choices," said Butte County public health education specialist Ellen Michels. "It should be easier to buy fresh fruit than sugary beverages. It should be easier to buy an apple than alcohol."

About 86 percent of stores that sell tobacco within 100 feet of schools sell candy-, mint- and liquor-flavored products for less than a dollar, the survey shows. And 65 percent of those stores sell tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drink and candy products at the checkout counter directly at the eye level of young children.

A major influencing factor is packaging of tobacco and alcohol products in bright colors and kid-friendly flavors mimics that of candy and soda, said Brantley, holding up a package of "white grape cigarillos" that sell two for 99 cents.

Raul Raygoza, a Butte County public health specialist in tobacco education, surveyed 25 stores and identified three major problem areas.

The first is that a price of a pack of cigarettes in Butte County, at $4.09, is 21 cents lower than the state average. The presence of electronic cigarettes in 45 percent of stores was also alarming, as was 85 percent availability rate of chewing tobacco, which is double that of urban areas.

Additional survey findings include:

• 81 percent of stores near schools sell sugary drinks at the checkout.

Glenn County drug and alcohol prevention specialist Francis Cuny said children are easy targets for advertisers because the brain does not stop developing until the age of 25.

"They know if they get a foothold in this population, they will have people using their products well into adulthood," he said.

He told how one day his 12-year-old son approached him with a can of "jerky chew," shredded meat sold in canisters identical to chewing tobacco.

"Not only do we have tobacco products that look like candy, we have candy that looks like tobacco products," Cuny said.

While Butte County Health Officer Dr. Mark Lundberg was not surprised that ads for unhealthy options outweigh alternatives, some local statistics were startling, he said. It's time to start a conversation with retailers, community members and policy makers about how to improve the retail in environment in ways that promote healthy choices.

"I want to see less death, less suffering, and I know that can happen if we affect choices people make," he said.

Chrysti Phelan, 15, said she was about 10 years old when she smoked her first cigarette, remembering that she stole it out of her father's ashtray.

"I wanted to look cool for my friends," she said. "It was all bad and I hated it. But I did it because everybody was doing it."

She continued smoking through her freshman year, at one point about a third of a pack a day. But finally, she realized it wasn't worth it and quit.

She would like to see more stores take the initiative to consider merchandise placement. One of her favorite stores keeps the cigarettes hidden behind the counter and alcohol out of view of the sodas.

"I'm hoping with this we can bring more knowledge about how harmful it really is and give youth and teens that power to say no," she said. "I baby-sit, I have a niece, and it would break my heart if she started smoking at the age that I did."

Health officials emphasized retailers are not to blame for the advertising culture that surrounds unhealthy options but can be part of the solution.

"We are all part of the problem and we all need tow work together to turn this around," Michels said.